Apple is reportedly working on a ‘non-iPhone Apple Watch’

A new Apple Watch might be popping up on our horizon and it’ll have one big advantage over its predecessors: it won’t need an iPhone to work. Bloomberg reports that Apple is reportedly working on a version of its smartwatch that will connect to LTE mobile networks. They have supposedly started talking to providers in the US and Europe to launch this device later this year. And Intel will supposedly be supplying the LTE modems for the new Apple Watch.

If there is some truth to the report, this will help boost Apple’s recent focus on the fitness benefits/credentials of the Apple Watch. Being able to untether the Apple Watch from the iPhone can bring with it the capabilities to let users bring songs with them to listen to when they’re running or are at the gym. Direct connection might even let them reply to messages and calls right from the wearable device. One of the biggest concerns will be battery life, though. With the iPhone augmenting some of the computational strain on the Apple Watch, making the wearable a standalone device would need a better battery.

Starbucks app for Android adds fingerprint support

If you frequent Starbucks and use their Android app, the latest update will bring features you might want. The app gets fingerprint support, meaning it’ll soon be easier to log in or reload your balance or even purchase gift cards within the app. Some of the other changes introduced in app include card balances being updated more frequently. Chase Pay has been optimized to make it easier for customers who reload their balance there. There are also new animations within the app.

Source: Android Police

Google reportedly wanted to buy Snap for US$30 billion

While it isn’t the first time it’s happened, it seems Facebook wasn’t the only one after Snapchat’s parent company Snap Inc. Google reportedly wanted a piece of the incredibly popular pie and tried to buy the company for US$30 billion. According to Business Insider, Google verbally talked about the acquisition of Snapchat with the company’s CEO Evan Spiegel. Snap is denying that formal discussions happened. Google also won’t comment on the story. According to the report though, the offer was supposedly still on the table since the company’s IPO early on in March.

Whether or not there’s truth to this, Spiegel is known to like being in charge of his own company, especially with a product he started himself. It would’ve benefited Snapchat on the marketing side if they took the deal and Snapchat would’ve helped Google develop its AR technology. But in the meantime, Snap and Google do work close together. Google’s investment arm put money on Snapchat after it went public. While Snap is considered one of Google Cloud’s biggest customers and they promise to spend US$2 billion on Google’s cloud platform.

Source: GSMArena + 9to5Google

Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s specs get leaked ahead of launch

Evan Blass/Twitter

It’s hard for companies to keep their upcoming product launches a secret in an age where the likes of Evan Blass (@evleaks) exist. This time, the VentureBeat reporter published what is expected to be the specs of the new Samsung Galaxy Note 8. His source is someone who has been briefed about the device’s configuration. Samsung is launching the Galaxy Note 8 on August 23^rd.

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